Budget Reflects a Well-Managed City
In approving the 2010 Operating and Capital Budget, the City of Vaughan showed that although economies around the world have been affected by a significant downturn, we were able to weather this economic storm as a result of solid financial management. The budget delivers on City services, facilities and infrastructure. The 2010 budget is a reflection of how well-managed the City is. This quality of management translates into minimal cost to our taxpayers and value for our property tax dollars.
The budget includes a tax increase of 2.65 per cent which works out to $30 a year for the average homeowner. The budget itself focuses on four main areas: Community Safety with the hiring of firefighters for a new station, new City Services including the opening of the North Thornhill Community Centre, Job Creation through a renewed economic development strategy and Environmental Stewardship.
So where is the more than $250 million in operating and capital costs going? There are three main expenses – the new fire hall, the North Thornhill Community Centre, and new City Hall. The Operating Budget also includes the hiring of firefighters for the new fire hall, major road repairs, implementing Green Direction programs (the City’s Community Sustainability and Environmental Master Plan), and the bringing together of our services for residents in the new City Hall. The new building will open later this year and the costs for operating it are included in the 2010 budget.
March 19, 2010 Update |
The City’s capital budget expenditures include nearly $30 million in new infrastructure and 120 projects including King Vaughan Road bridge widening, major road works in the Thornbank and Centre area, sidewalk repairs, new parkland and the addition of a fitness centre at the Vellore Village Community Centre.
This year will also see the completion of the many Master Plans that the City has been working on. These plans - the Official Plan Review, Environmental Master Plan, Transportation Master Plan, Employment Sectors Strategy, Active Together Master Plan, the Long-Term Financial Plan, Water and Sewer Master Plan, and the Storm Water/Drainage Master Plan – will lay the foundation for how our City will grow over the next 25 years.
A significant challenge for the 2011 budget process, which is now underway, will be to develop a comprehensive and integrated implementation approach for our master plans.
Budgeting is a continuous process that is driven by one theme – value for your property tax dollar. It is an ongoing effort to find an appropriate balance between providing the highest level of services possible to residents and businesses, while at the same time minimizing the tax burden. This is where good planning comes into play and why we must always prepare for the future.